by Chris Strauss and Peggy Wright, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Strauss and Peggy Wright, USA TODAY Sports

MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- New York Jets running back Mike Goodson "was incoherent, slobbering and had vomited all over himself as well as the interior of the vehicle," when he was arrested early Friday morning, New Jersey State Trooper Carlos Mesa said in an affidavit seen by USA TODAY Sports.

Goodson appeared in court Wednesday to plead not guilty to gun and drug charges in connection to the arrest.

Police said they found a baggie of marijuana in Goodson's pants pocket, and a loaded, .45-caliber Taurus Millennium handgun and drug paraphernalia in the car, which driver Garant Evans, 31, of Roselle, N.J., consented to have searched.

Mesa said that when he found the car stopped on Interstate 80 in Denville, N.J., he went to speak to Evans and smelled burnt marijuana and alcohol coming from the vehicle. Mesa said he saw Goodson, 25, in the front seat.

Goodson, of Spring, Texas, was taken to a hospital as a precaution after Friday's incident because of his level of intoxication, authorities said.

Police were alerted to the vehicle by a tow truck operator, who reported the vehicle stopped in the left center lane of the interstate around 3 a.m., police said.

The loaded, .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun contained 4 Speer rounds and one Winchester hollow point bullet, according to a criminal complaint.

Criminal complaints also said that police found two partially smoked marijuana cigars and drug paraphernalia that included four empty plastic baggies and one Dutchmaster pack containing the two cigars.

Goodson was able to post $50,000 bail and appeared Wednesday, neatly attired in a suit, at a processing hearing in state Superior Court.

Defense lawyer Anthony Fusco said Goodson is still a Jets player and is fully cooperating with inquiries by the NFL and Jets. On Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Boston, Jets owner Woody Johnson said the club was still collecting "facts" about the case before determining Goodson's status. Johnson said Goodson had met with Jets general manager John Idzik.

"He has not been disciplined or anything like that by the team," Fusco said before the hearing. "The gun charge is serious but we have reason to believe the gun is not his. We firmly believe the gun charge is not going to last against Mike."

Fusco said that Goodson would next appear in Superior Court on June 12th.

Bail on Evans was reduced from the initial $150,000 to $75,000 on Tuesday by a Superior Court judge. According to court records, Evans is not permitted to have a weapon because he previously was convicted in Union County for possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

Fusco said Goodson met Evans about three weeks ago.

Goodson, who signed a three-year, $6.9 million deal with the Jets this off-season, did not speak to reporters under the advice of his attorney, who answered questions for him.

"He's upset," Fusco said. "It's something he didn't want to ever happen. Mike has no record whatsoever. He feels that he has been and will continue to cooperate with the New York Jets and the NFL."

Goodson faces five charges: drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a loaded gun, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of hollow-point bullets.

The lawyer advised Jets fans to "just hold on" as details in the case emerge.

"We're just getting into the case, but you can see, the way he looks, he's just a hell of a nice guy," Fusco said. "If you get a chance to talk to him later on, not today, you'll see what a nice guy he is. I think that's going to be very important."

Wright is a reporter for the (Morris County) Daily Record, a Gannett property.